[HBV infection downregulated Mre11 expression and induced genome instability].
OBJECTIVE
Prolonged infection with Hepatitis B virus (HBV) has been recognized as a major factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we studied the host protein Mrel11 fluctuations after HBV infection which might be eventually contributed to cell transformation.


METHODS
Western Blot was monitored to detect the expression of Mre11, and RNA interference was used to downregulate protein expression. Then, Ligation mediated PCR was used to detect the level of DNA double strand breaks.


RESULTS
Mre11 protein was downregulated when HBV infection occured, and the downregulated expression was also seen in HCC tissue. By RNA interference, we found that Mre11 knockdown caused DNA instability.


CONCLUSIONS
Mre11 expression downregulation contributed at least partially to cell transformation caused by HBV infection.
Liu
Yu
Y
Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing 100850, China. liuyu08@yahoo.com
Hou
Ningbo
N
Zhao
Fan
F
Zhang
Yanhong
Y
Yuan
Jing
J
He
Xiang
X
Zhong
Hui
H
D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics; D004260:DNA Repair; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D042822:Genomic Instability; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D000076228:MRE11 Homologue Protein; D034622:RNA Interference
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C121766:MRE11 protein, human; D000076228:MRE11 Homologue Protein